Family Members of WSU's DeAndre Douglas Die in Auto Accident
Tragedy hits Cougar football team hard.
August 10, 1998
PULLMAN, Wash. -- Three family members of Washington State University football recruit DeAndre Douglas, San Diego, Calif., were killed in an auto accident Friday morning in Nevada, Cougar head football coach Mike Price confirmed Monday.
Killed in the 8:15 a.m. crash near Las Vegas were Douglas' mother Rhonda Denise Booker, 35, his grandfather Bobby Ray Booker, 53, and a female cousin, Ashley Dell, 12.
"This tragedy is a complete shock to everyone connected with Cougar football," Price said. "DeAndre is a part of the Cougar family and we all grieve with him. We will do everything we can to take care of DeAndre. We made that promise to his mother and grandfather when they brought him to Pullman."
Price said the family drove Douglas to Pullman, arriving very early Thursday morning, at which time they checked into a local hotel. They departed Pullman mid-afternoon the same day (Thursday) on their return trip to San Diego.
According to Price, assistant football coach Jim Zeches flew to San Diego with Douglas Saturday.
Price said the 6-2 wide receiver who graduated from University City High three months ago is expected to return to WSU for the start of fall classes Aug. 24.
"We are just about all the family DeAndre has left," Price said, "and we take that responsibility very seriously. He has over 100 teammates, coaches and support staff in his family and we will do everything possible to help him recover from this tragic and shocking loss."
